International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1"At that time, the kingdom from heaven will be comparable to ten bridesmaids who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the groom.

1“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

2Now five of them were foolish, and five were wise,

2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

3because when the foolish ones took their lamps, they didn't take any oil with them.

3For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

4But the wise ones took flasks of oil with their lamps.

4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

5Since the groom was late, all of them became sleepy and lay down.

5As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

6But at midnight there came a shout: 'The groom is here! Come out to meet him!'

6But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

7Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready.

7Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.

8"But the foolish ones told the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out!'

8And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

9"But the wise ones replied, 'No! There will never be enough for us and for you. You'd better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.'

9But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’

10"While they were away buying it, the groom arrived. Those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet, and the door was closed.

10And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

11Later, the other bridesmaids arrived and said, 'Lord, lord, open up for us!'

11Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’

12"But he replied, 'I tell all of you with certainty, I don't know you!'

12But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

13So keep on watching, because you don't know the day or the hour."

13Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

14"Similarly, it is like a man going on a trip, who called his servants and turned his money over to them.

14“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

15To one man he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, based on their ability. Then he went on his trip.

15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

16"The one who received five talents went out at once and invested them and earned five more.

16He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

17In the same way, the one who had two talents earned two more.

17So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

18But the one who received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and buried his master's money.

18But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19"After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

19Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20The one who had received five talents came up and brought five more talents. 'Master,' he said, 'you gave me five talents. See, I've earned five more talents.'

20And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’

21"His master told him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy servant! Since you've been trustworthy with a small amount, I'll put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master's joy!'

21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

22"The one with two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I've earned two more talents.

22And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’

23"His master told him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy servant! Since you've been trustworthy with a small amount, I'll put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master's joy!'

23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

24"Then the one who had received one talent came forward and said, 'Master, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you haven't planted and gathering where you haven't scattered any seed.

24He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,

25Since I was afraid, I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here, take what's yours!'

25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’

26"His master answered him, 'You evil and lazy servant! So you knew that I harvested where I haven't planted and gathered where I haven't scattered any seed?

26But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

27Then you should've invested my money with the bankers. When I returned, I would've received my money back with interest.'

27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

28Then the master said, 'Take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the ten talents,

28So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

29because to everyone who has something, more will be given, and he'll have more than enough. But from the person who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away from him.

29For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

30Throw this useless servant into the darkness outside! In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

30And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels are with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.

31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

32All the nations will be assembled in front of him, and he will cull them out, one from another, like a shepherd separates sheep from goats.

32Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on his left.

33And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

34"Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who have been blessed by my Father! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,

34Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

35because I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.

35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

36I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'

36I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

37"Then the righteous will say to him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you something to eat, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

37Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

38When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or see you naked and clothe you?

38And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

39When did we see you sick or in prison, and visit you?'

39And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40The king will answer them, 'I tell all of you with certainty, since you did it for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.'

40And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Get away from me, you who are accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!

41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

42Here's why: I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink.

42For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

43I was a stranger, and you didn't welcome me. I was naked, and you didn't clothe me. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'

43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’

44"Then they will reply, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or as a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didn't help you?'

44Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’

45Then he will say to them, 'I tell all of you with certainty, since you didn't do it for one of the least important of these, you didn't do it for me.'

45Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’

46These people will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."

46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.